Reportage OnlineMagazine of the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism2016-10-19T10:34:15Zhttp://www.reportageonline.com/feed/atom/WordPressZiyad Khanhttp://www.reportageonline.com/?p=239222016-10-19T10:34:15Z2016-10-19T10:34:15ZBy Michaela Morgan

On any given weekend, The Bower is buzzing with activity. There’s a constant stream of people donating second hand tables, microwaves and bicycles, shopping for retro furniture bargains, or learning to fix a toaster at the Repair Café. For 17 years, The Bower Re-Use and Recycle Centre in Marrickville has been recycling donated household items and saving them from becoming landfill.

Guido Verbist, General Manager at The Bower Reuse and Repair Centre. Photograph by Michaela Morgan

And now, following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the not-for-profit centre will be distributing furniture to asylum seekers and refugees who are in the process of settling in Sydney, as part of a new project called ‘From House to Home’.

Guido Verbist, the Bower’s Co-operative Manager, says the centre has previously offered a 20 per cent discount to asylum seekers.

“But we thought that we should actually try to do even better than that. Give more support to them. And also because we think that, instead of buying new goods every time, why not offer second hand goods? For the same amount of money, they can purchase so much more he says.”

After the From House to Home project joined forces with activist group, Mums 4 Refugees, nearly $15,000 was raised through online crowdfunding. Mums 4 Refugees member Tara Crisp says the collaboration has been beneficial in more ways than one.

“We’re quite excited about the idea because we were actually receiving a whole lot of requests for furniture and we were trying to deal with them, but we just weren’t set up todeliver large items.”As well as the money that was crowd sourced, the ‘From House to Home’ project has received grants from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and the Sidney Myer Fund, bringing the entire project’s budget to close to $50,000.

The money will be distributed between four different organisations, according to Guido Verbist.

“We have opened accounts for the Newtown Asylum Seekers Centre, House of Welcome in Blacktown, Marist Youth Care and Pyrmont Cares,” he says.

After caseworkers assess individual needs, families will be given vouchers to purchase essential items such as fridges, washing machines and beds.

“The nicest part of all of this is, for them, it’s like going shopping anywhere else. It’s not something that is imposed on them, they can pick and choose what they like and don’t like. Being treated like any other normal customer is the main pleasure for them, and for us,” says Mr Verbist.

He says that the public awareness of this campaign has seen The Bower receive more donations than ever. However, the centre has not been able accept all of the offers that they receive.

Mr Verbist says, “The main roadblock we currently have is space, ironically, because there is more offered to us than we can store and that limits us a little bit.”

The centre is currently searching for an additional warehouse to cope with the demand and to ensure the ‘House to Home’ program can continue beyond 2016.

The often negative public perception of foxes is the subject of a battle between the NSW Government’s Local Land Services and the registered charity Sydney Fox Rescue.

Reviled and revered, the urban fox. Photograph by Brian Carson used under Creative Commons licence

The Sydney-based charity originally acted to rescue and rehome injured or orphaned foxes, although it has been unable to do so since March last year due to legislative changes.

These restrictions were part of the 2014 European Red Fox Pest Control Order enacted by Katrina Hodgkinson, formerly Minister for Primary Industries, which declares the animals pests.

Additionally, Sydney Fox Rescue was issued with a media blackout as part of the first draft of permit conditions for previously rehomed foxes which, according to organisation President Charlie Jackson-Martin, was absurd.

“This clause wanted to erase the existence of rescue foxes. They were such an issue in terms of the image of the Government, who were persecuting these animals, that they wanted to erase them from history,” he says.

The clause – as part of fox ownership conditions – stated that all print, web and social media relating to the rescue and rehoming of foxes, and to the existence of foxes kept in captivity, would be banned.

Graham Wilson, Manager of Greater Sydney Local Land Services Biosecurity and Emergency Services, says, “The NSW Government worked with Sydney Fox Rescue and fox owners to develop a set of conditions that struck a balance between the Pest Control Order for foxes, animal welfare guidelines, and the expectations of fox owners.”

He described foxes as playing a “central role” in the death and extinction of several native species.

After receiving legal help, Sydney Fox Rescue was able to get the conditions relating to the ban removed, and has again started campaigning on behalf of the fox.

Although the ban has been lifted, Mr Jackson-Martin suggests that elements of it are still evident in the current system.

Foxes that were previously rehomed are unable to be taken into residential dwellings or removed from the properties where they have been kept, and are unable to meet other people unless they are friends of the owner.

They are also unable to be used for any purposes that could be described as advertising.

Concerning the fox’s image, Mr Jackson-Parker suggests it has not always been negative. “Somewhere in our history a shift occurred where they became this vile, feral, detestable animal,” he says.

He says that if more people could see them in domestic settings in all their beauty, this misconception would dissipate.

The transport of foxes, including taking them to the vet, is also illegal unless done by qualified people.

The Pest Control Order suggests that injured or orphaned foxes should be euthanised if found.

In a crime scene, detectives may trace potential suspects with just a strand of hair. Then in the high-tech lab, forensic officers extract DNA evidence that points to a suspect. This is a typical scenario in crime TV shows.

Dr Mark Barash. Photograph by Shane Lo

However, that is the best scenario. In reality, even with DNA collected from the crime scene, investigations descend into deadlock if there is no suspect available to compare or no match found in the DNA database.

The uniqueness of DNA makes it powerful in crime investigation. What else can it tell us?

UTS researcher Dr Mark Barash is conducting human DNA profiling research to explain the genes responsible for the shape and size of our facial features. The aim is to develop more accurate methods of facial reconstruction to help identify victims of natural disasters and solve cold cases.

His research is trying to fill in the gaps where the DNA evidence could not work at its best. Dr Barash has experienced the strengths and weaknesses of the current DNA profiling in identifying suspects and victims of natural disasters. Now he is going to “convince” the DNA molecule to “talk”.

Dr Barash has collected DNA samples and 3D facial images from almost 600 volunteers; over 100 craniofacial measurements were collected through graphic software after analysing the facial images. The result shows associations between ‘bits’ (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and craniofacial traits, which may allow the prediction of a person’s appearance from a DNA sample in the future.

Many prior studies have indicated that the shapes and traits that make each human face unique are dependent on genes. At the current stage, only hair, eye and skin color, as well as ethnic background, are relatively easy to identify. And these findings have already been used by law enforcement. For example, in the 2004 Madrid bombings, forensic officers predicted the suspect was from North Africa from the DNA extracted from the scene.

Facial reconstruction from DNA is another matter. According to Dr Barash, firstly, genes that affect the size and shape of the facial features are largely unknown. Secondly, each gene has a small bit of influence on the face and the influences are affected by many factors, such as the outside environment and eating habits for example, which required detailed and complex study. Furthermore, large-scale of samples are needed to cover different populations, different backgrounds so as to guarantee statistical reliability.

Despites the important value of the research in scientific and forensic fields, the dispute over the DNA analysis never ends. In 2012, American artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg created human faces from the DNA she extracted from discarded items like cigarette butts, chewing gum and hair, and exhibited them in her ‘Strange Visions’ 3D exhibition, aiming at arousing public awareness on the downside of DNA analysis.

As the most unique information for an individual, DNA

can be used by law enforcement for legitimate purposes, just like Dr Barash’s study. However, it may also be used for commercial and other purposes which may violate personal privacy.

However, as Dr Barash says, “current DNA analysis could only predict some facial features, not the whole face”. He emphasises that the samples collected are solely used for scientific purpose, and they are all “de-identified”.

A proposal for a 150-hectare cemetery in Campbelltown took Varroville House residents Jacqui Kirkby and Peter Gibbs by surprise when they heard about it in 2013. If the proposal went ahead they were going to be living in the middle of the cemetery.

Three years later, in a hearing in front of the NSW Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRRP) for Sydney East on August 25, they are still fighting the proposal.

Site of proposed cemetery, Varroville House in background

In her submission to the JRRP hearing, Ms Kirkby called the proposal “state-sanctioned theft”, saying that the development would give them a “360-degree view” of a graveyard and make their historic home unsellable.

The Carmelite nuns and friars, who live near the proposed site of the cemetery on St Andrews Rd, Varroville, also oppose the cemetery.

Father Gregory Burke say that they had received no offer of compensation even though “the peace and serenity of the area provides our livelihood”.

Behind the proposed cemetery is the Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT) which says that that Western Sydney will run out of burial sites by 2042.

However, Rob Matta, Family Services Manager for the nearby Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in Leppington says they have enough burial space for the next 70 years, “unless we have a major holocaust”.

Research by McCrindle Research in 2014 for the Australian Funeral Directors Association shows an increasing demand for cremations instead of burials, largely due to cost. According to their survey of Australians aged 50+ only 20 per cent would prefer a burial.

Another report by business intelligence company IBISWorld predicts that, despite higher numbers of aged Australians, the increased number of cremations will “limit industry growth”.

The hearing was another step in a process that started in 2013 when the Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust announced a plan to build a cemetery in Varroville, on part of Campbelltown’s Scenic Hills. The development would provide 136, 000 graves in five stages, with the final stage complete “post 2099”.

According to its 2015 financial report, the CMCT planned a forty-million-dollar investment in the cemetery over the next three years.

Plans include a chapel, condolence rooms, a sculpture park, marsh and ponds, and an area for “passive recreation” such as picnics. According to architect Florence Jaquet, graves will be marked with “plaques flush with the grass”, but monuments up to 1.5 metres in height will also be allowed.

The August hearing was to decide on rezoning the site of the proposed cemetery. Currently the site has E3 Environmental Management status that prohibits business operations such as cemeteries.

The Campbelltown City Council was opposed to such a change and Councillor George Brticevic described the motion as a “spot rezoning”.

Councillor Meg Oates said that smog and smoke comes down through the valley from the Scenic Hills. With a crematorium, she said residents will be inhaling human remains.

At the hearing Leo McLeay, Chair of CMCT, denied plans to construct a crematorium at the proposed site. However, the Scenic Hills Association website links to a list of business names that the CMCT has registered under its ABN, many of which include the word “crematorium”.

Mr Anoulack Chanthivong, Macquarie Fields state Labour MP, said that the timing of the hearing was unfair as the Campbelltown Council was in “caretaker mode” prior to local elections on September 10.

The Scenic Hills Association in a statement on its website, said that the NSW government allowed the CMCT to buy the site before the cemetery had been approved. Discovery of the sale was made in February, well before approval to pass to a hearing was given in June.

Jacqui Kirkby also told the JRRP panel that she had obtained a planning document prepared by Urbis for the CMCT under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPAA). According to Ms Kirkby, the document is an assessment of potential cemetery sites in Western Sydney. It was prepared in August 2014 after the Scenic Hills cemetery was first proposed. Thirty-one sites for a cemetery were considered in the document, five of which rated highly. The Scenic Hills site was not among these.

Update: In an announcement made on Sep 12, the JRRP panel approved the rezoning of the site of the proposed cemetery. The announcement was made after a two-week delay, on the Monday following the Campbelltown Council election.

The rising costs of childcare facilities are becoming a significant burden in local communities, especially for many young families. Yet one working mother’s idea, subsequent business plan and new initiative might be a solution.

A local initiative offers help to working parents who need both childcare and a professional workspace away from home.

Sally Miles is the founder of the startup ‘Upswing’, the first of its kind in Australia. Upswing promotes both pop-up childcare services and a co-working space. She developed her plan after balancing two full-time jobs, one being motherhood. She compared her two roles as a juggling act and admitted, “I felt like I was failing at both.”

Sally’s situation is shared by many women who are forced to put their careers on hold once they have children. “When you become a mum, you have to shift your career to create a more flexible career path such as starting a small business or retraining in a new area,” she says.

Some businesses often recognise this challenge and offer support in the form of parental leave, and flexible working schedules. McKindle Research found that one in 12 people are working at home. Its studies found that the rates of productivity were lower for those remote workers due to household distractions.

How can mothers who continue working after childbirth be productive at work?

Upswing could be the solution for some parents by offering a distraction-free environment for parents, and a separate childcare service within the same venue. Each session lasts for three-hours, and costs $55. The flexible sessions consist of two separate spaces – one for children to be supervised with qualified caretakers, and a workspace set-up with desks for parents.

Lane Cove Council supports the Upswing initiative by offering community spaces free of charge for the project’s initial months. According to Sally Miles, the Council backed the initiative because it “advantageously supports both local working mothers, and alleviates pressure from local daycare facilities”.

A local Council in partnership with a thriving startup like Upswing is the first of its kind in Australia. Deborah Hutchens, Lane Cove’s Mayor says, “I think it is a fantastic initiative.” She acknowledges that childcare is increasingly expensive, and that in many cases “bothparents have to work in order to make ends meet”.

The initiative is offered to all, but aimed at women working in jobs that offer a flexible working schedule such as freelancers, and business start-up managers.

With its unprecedented success, Upswing is now implementing plans to expand their services to other Sydney suburbs including Cromer, Naremburn and Balgowlah.

The musical ‘Fair Dinkum’, which visited local schools during Book Week in August, was produced with the aim of inspiring children to read.

The musical, staged by Perform Educational Musicals, travelled around New South Wales to celebrate Book Week 2016 promoting the theme ‘Australia – Story Country’.

Actors Brad Carter and Madison Hegarty performing ‘Fair Dinkum’.

The company, has been creating specialty educational musicals for primary schools for over 15 years, visiting millions of children. It believes in the power of theatre as an educational tool and its potential to empower children to learn while having fun.

The Book Week tour was funded under a ‘school pays’ model whereby the school is charged a fee per student to cover costs of the tour.

Managing director Tobias Benn says “Sometimes schools will use the internal budget and other times students will be asked to bring money in, dependent on the school’s budget.”

The show ‘Fair Dinkum’ was written for the company by award winning writer, composer and director, Craig Christie, and focused on books shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council.

As an official partner of the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Perform Educational Musicals is allowed the use of the CBC logo and books; ‘Perfect’ by Danny Parker and Freya Blackwood, ‘Mr Huff’ by Anna Walker and ‘Suri’s Wall’ by Lucy Estela and Matt Ottley for this year’s show.

In return, the Children’s Book Council Australia required the company to advertise the books in schools visited and include the logo as part of their set.

“This partnership helps schools realise the performance they are receiving is credible and an official source”, Tobias Benn says.

The musical aims to teach children about the importance of reading while its story line shows the negative effects of spreading rumours.

Librarian Kerry Pope, from William Clarke College, Kellyville NSW, realises that books compete with computer games for after school activities.

However, believes “books not only develop a child’s reading ability but improve social skills and help behavioral problems”.

The company visited 45 schools across New South Wales by the end of its four-week season.

Actor Brad Carter, who toured with the company, says the opportunity to change the way children view books is rewarding.

“It’s hard work, but watching children become excited about books and enjoy learning is worth the travel. Some students start the show unconvinced, but by the end they are singing along with us!”

The tour ended Friday 9th of September concluding Book Week celebrations for 2016, to book this show for next year visit the website of Perform Educational Musicals.

Despite the NSW Government announcing a $39 million boost and additional funding towards new cycleways in NSW, many Sydney cyclists refuse to ride along Sydney’s roads.

A cyclist is no match for a car in terms of protection. Photo: Althea Rodricks

Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for NSW, announced an increase in funding for more than 300 cycling projects across NSW in April 2016.The City of Sydney Council has also introduced a Cycle Strategy and Action Plan to support the pending City of Sydney Environmental Action Plan for 2016 – 2021. Both documents highlight the importance of cycling as a cleaner and healthier alternative to commuting to work or for leisure.

Cycling routes are highlighted as part of the Liveable Green Network, a strategy to promote cycling for short distances to work, hospitality and retail services in the City CBD.

Yet despite improvements to cycleways in Sydney, cyclists are still apprehensive about riding on Sydney’s roads.

Bobby Karajov cycles to and from work but avoids riding on roads. “It’s way too dangerous. If you’re cycling on the road, you’re asking for trouble. It’s best to stick to shared paths, but even those are dangerous because pedestrians and dogs can walk in front of you.“Motorists don’t see you either and don’t check their blind spots.”

Tomas Noll, a triathlete, uses the M7 and the M2 for long distance cycling. “Sydney’s roads aren’t designed for cyclists. Yes, cyclists do have right of way but cyclists need to respect that, and not take it for granted,” he said. “Sydney’s roads haven’t been planned. They’re not meant for cycling.”

Peter Boros cycles on Sydney’s roads and rides to work daily. “Don’t expect anything of motorists and don’t assume anything. You’re wearing lycra and they’re wearing a steel suit of armour,” he says.

Amy Kwong moved from Sydney to Auckland because of her love of cycling. She found Sydney’s roads not only to be too dangerous for cycling, but that the attitude from some motorists was shocking.

“I was riding from Mona Vale road and someone had put thumbtacks on the downhill stretch of the cycle path. Some people are really malicious towards people who cycle in lycra as opposed to someone wearing a normal T-shirt.

“There are cars hooning past at times. I remember twice being passed with centimetres to spare. The drivers had plenty of space but seemed like they were attempting to scare us.”

Despite fears about cycling on the road, accidents and injuries to cyclists riding in Sydney has decreased since 2008.

Rob Berry, the general manager of BikeWise Sydney, believes that the perceptions are worse than the reality for cyclists and motorists.

“There is no doubt that people who ride bikes and people who drive cars often have different priorities when it comes to moving around the city, and sometimes that can lead to conflict,” he said, “but the reality of the situation is that we are all just people trying to get to where we need to go and that in the vast majority of cases we are all able to do that with no fuss or bother at all.

“The isolated cases of intentional sabotage don’t represent the vast majority of totally reasonable people who have no problem sharing space with other people regardless of their mode of transport.”

“There are a lot of things that riders can do to make their experience on the roads a pleasant one. BikeWise Sydney’s courses all about empowering people, making them aware of the choices available to them and helping them make the best decisions for themselves, decisions about where to ride, how to make themselves visible and how to communicate with other people around them.“The more we all conform to the patterns on our roads and we actively engage with each other, regardless of what kind of vehicle we are using, the better our experiences will be.

I’d definitely encourage anyone who was thinking about riding for transport to book in to one of our courses through sydneycycleways.net to see how easy (and how much fun!) riding a bike can be.”

Mayor of Sydney City Clover Moore announced that the City of Sydney is building a 200km network, including cycleways, to boost cycling trips to and from work, across town or to school and university.

“Our roads and paths are there to be shared. Whether you’re on foot, on two wheels, or on four, please be safe and courteous. We should all look out for one another.”

Tourists and locals who don’t go to Chinatown very often may notice two identical arches at the ends of Dixon Street and wonder which one marks the entrance. According to King Fong, even though the arches look the same, names of the Chinese-Austra

Entrance to Chinatown

lians who donate money to Chinatown are inscribed in Chinese characters on the side of the entrance arches. King Fong, whose real name is Fong Jinwu, was born in 1938 in Fiji to parents from Zhongshan in southern China. He came to Sydney with his family in 1946 and helped his father build a new life as a fish merchant. Under the influence of his respected father, Mr Fong has been active in community service. He was the first chairman of the Chinese Lunar New Year Committee, an Australian Day Ambassador, and is now the president of the Chinese Australian History Society.

Mr Fong has seen the developments and changes in the lives of Chinese-Australians, from the 1940s when the White Australia Policy was still active to today when migrants from every country and culture are welcomed. He has accumulated such knowledge over the past 70 years that people called him the unofficial mayor of Chinatown. He now runs a regular tour of Chinatown.

Robert Yu, manager of the Nine Dragons Restaurant for more than 40 years, says that with so many visitors taking Mr Fong’s tour, Chinatown is not such a mysterious place as it’s used to be.

Mr Fong starts his tour by saying, “Have a look at the autographs on the arches; actually we wanted to make the donors’ name in English, but Sydney City Council wouldn’t allow that because it was advertising.” In the first hour of the tour, Mr Fong leads the tour group through Dixon Street and tells the history of the old shops and buildings.

The Chungshan Clan Committee in their costumes from the last empire, the Qing Dynasty. Photograph courtesy of King Fong

He shows photographs he collected from 1910 that give a vivid depiction of Chinatown’s history over the 20th century. His favourite is a photograph of the Chungshan Clan Committee in their costumes from the last empire, the Qing Dynasty.

Nicole Cama, executive officer of the History Week Council, says Mr Fong’s walking tour adds to the rich array of events, focusing on a fascinating part of Sydney’s story.

]]>0Ziyad Khanhttp://www.reportageonline.com/?p=238982016-10-19T00:57:13Z2016-10-19T00:57:13ZResults of Campbelltown’s September 10 local election show a clear move to the left for the Campbelltown Council.

Labor has won three new seats on the Council giving them a total of seven seats. Liberal councillors lost one seat leaving them with three.

The Greens are back after a four-year hiatus with Ben Moroney winning a place, and the Total Locally Committed (TLC) Party has a second councillor, Warren Morrison.

Paul Lake, of the Community First team, and Bob Thompson, an independent, also return to the chambers.

Anoulack Chantivong, Labor MP for Macquarie Fields

The move towards Labor was part of a Sydney-wide trend with Labor making gains in a number of electorates in Sydney’s southwest.

Anoulack Chantivong, Macquarie Fields Labor MP, describes Labor’s success across Sydney’s southwest as the result of winning the community’s “trust and respect”. He says Labor is always “standing up for the local community”.

Mr Chantivong was elected to the Campbelltown Council as a 26-year-old in 2004, the youngest councillor at that time, and became mayor in 2011-2012, which he describes as a “great experience”.

He is now moving on to a parliamentary role after completing 12 years of service as councillor for Campbelltown.

Given a total of 15 seats in the Council, Labor will now only need the support of one additional party for a working majority in the Council.

The Greens and the TLC party could fulfil this role, suggests political analyst Bob Raue.

Ben Moroney, the Greens new councillor, says he is “happy to work with any party”, as long as they respect the values of the Greens.

Mr Moroney, a nanotechnologist and PhD candidate in magnetic resonance, says he wants to leave a more “transparent and open Council”, saying that it is currently a “closed book”.

He also wants greater recognition of the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) (EPBC Act), which protects threatened species such as local koala colonies or shale/sandstone transition forest.

Mr Moroney hopes to investigate whether the EPBC Act is adhered to in developments in the Campbelltown area. He says that the impact of the recent Airds development on the local koala population is one case worth examining, with another being the controversial cemetery proposal at Varroville.

New Campbelltown Councillor Ben Moroney enjoying some of the nature surrounding Campbelltown

Another possible source of support for Labor is Councillor Fred Borg, leader of the Totally Locally Committed party.

Mr Borg has been councillor for 17 years and local resident for 52 years.

He says the Totally Locally Committed party is against “growth without infrastructure”, and that he wants to see more investment in roads before any more housing development takes place.

When asked about cooperating with Labor, Mr Borg says that “there are many policies and areas that we can agree with”.

Venetia Scott and her team at Bicycles for Change are working tirelessly to collect and ship second-hand bicycles to Namibia.

On Saturday 10th September, Venetia set-up her bicycle collection base tucked at the far end of St Ives Showground.

A volunteer repairing the bicycles at St Ives Showground.

Venetia is the Operations Manager at Bicycles for Change, which collects, and repairs bicycles handed in by Sydney residents. The charity runs four collections a year at St Ives Showground.

This space is granted to the charity from Ku-ring-gai Council. Sigrid Banzer, spokesman for Ku-ring-gai Council said, “The initiative reinforces the Council’s ethos of recycling and support for alternative forms of transport as well assisting people in developing countries.”

The charity receives 30 to 40 bikes at a collection day. “This is wonderful because it relies on the generosity of others, as we don’t have the manpower to collect the bikes ourselves,” says Venetia.

After the drop-off days, the bikes are stored in a shipping container. Two shipping containers are located permanently at St Ives Showground until they have reached capacity with 420 bikes per container. Bicycles for Change has a second site at a local Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) that operates daily in Moss Vale.Bicycles for Change has been in partnership with Wingecarribee Shire Council since 2013. “Council has been very supportive of our work, granting us the space of the Resource Recovery Centre,” Venetia says.

Hans Radowitz is the lead volunteer at the centre, where he works every Wednesday. He decided to join the charity in 2010, as he believed a bicycle was a more resourceful tool than other forms of foreign aid.

“It’s important to not just give things away but to create jobs for the locals,” says Hans.

Bicycles for Change rely on donations and fundraising in order to support the expensive freight costs. Wingecarribee Shire Council has donated $1000 for two consecutive years to help fund its projects.

The charity has also received support from hardware store, Bunning’s, which has engaged in local sausage sizzle events.

“All donated money goes into shipping the containers to Namibia which is our biggest cost,” says Venetia. The standard shipping cost is between $8000-$10 000 to buy a container and ship it to Namibia.

Aside from donations, Wingecarribee Shire Council has also been providing communications support to the charity.

According to David Sommers, spokesman for Wingecarribee Shire Council, “Council newsletters have been important to inform residents about the initiative.”

When the shipping containers reach Namibia, they are converted into bicycle shops by local partner, Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN Namibia). It was created by an Australian in the mid 2000s, and has successfully set-up over 35 bike shops.

“The containers are a bike shop in a box,” says Venetia. It is a self-sustaining model as it creates work for locals who are trained by BEN staff, and the bikes are sold at affordable prices.

Bicycles for Change chose Namibia as its donor destination because it lacks basic public transport infrastructure. Venetia says that the lack of transport can prevent a person’s access to healthcare, education and employment.

Namibia has a high rate of poverty and urban sprawl, being one of the world’s least populated countries.

“The main form of traveling is by foot, which poses a problem when your school and hospital is many kilometers away,” Venetia says.

The vast distances in Namibia and lack of cars and other vehicles mean that many patients and medical staff are forced to travel by foot. Bicycle Ambulances are a successful initiative by BEN Namibia that is created by connecting a simple trailer to the back of a donated bike. There are over 100 of these currently in place.

Hans Radowitz says that Bicycles for Change’s partnership with BEN has many ongoing socio-economic benefits for Namibia.

“The bicycles create jobs and a business which has a lasting effect. It’s like giving a person fish to eat – that only lasts a day. If you give them a fishing line – they can catch fish for a lifetime,” he says.